Building-block.



N0. 848,917. PATENTED APR. 2, 190?:

E. J. MOELLIGOTT & E. A. OIMMERY.

BUILDING BLOCK. APPLIUATIOH FILED 001*.16, 1905.

. 11. anagers;

rue NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, o c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OF MANISTEE,

BUILDING-BLOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 1907.

Application filed October 16, 1905. Serial No. 283,071.

To all w/wm it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EDWARD J AMEs Mo- ELLIGOTT and EDv RDo A. CIMMERY,citi- Zens of the United States, residing at Manistee, in the county ofManistee and State 01 Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in BuildingBlocks, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has for its object to provide a building-block of novelconstruction which may be incorporated in a hollow wall construction tosecure ventilation thereof.

The invention consists of a building-block of cement or other materialgenerally used or adapted for use in the manufacture of blocks to bebuilt into a wall or like structure. The block is hollow and designed tobe set into a wall so that a series of said blocks will form acontinuous passage in a vertical direction for the circulation of acurrent of air. Certain of the blocks will be provided in a side with aventilator having protected dampercontrolled openings to exclude thepassage of mice and vermin and admit of the current of air beingregulated.

A wall constructed in accordance with this invention is dry upon theinside and practically proof against the passage of frost and dampness.

The invention consists, essentially, of a hollow building-block having aventilator in a side thereof, said ventilator being prefer ablyconstructed of sheet metal and secured in the block by having the lattermolded, pressed, or otherwise constructed about the same.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions bychanges in the structure and minor details without departing from thespirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment isshown in the accompanying drawings, in which-1 Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a build ing-block embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a verticalsectional View thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of theventilator,

having the parts separated and arranged in a group.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The block 1 may be of any relative proportions and design, being formedwith an opening 2 extending through opposite sides, so that when anumber of such blocks are built into a wall the openings 2 thereofcommunicate and form, in effect, a continuous passage through which acirculation of air is maintained to carry off any dampness or odors. Theblock is provided in a side with a ventilator, the same consisting ofsections having their outer ends flanged to overlap portions of a sideof the block in which the ventilator is fitted. The sections comprisingthe ventilator are of such relative proportions as to admit of onesnugly fitting within the other i and having a telescopic arrangement,whereby the ventilator may be adapted readily to the thickness of theside of the block in which it is located. The inner section consists ofa thimble 3, having an outer flange 4 at one end, and is preferablyformed of sheet material, such as galvanized iron, which is bent intocylindrical form, the meeting ends being secured in any substantial andpracticable manner. The outer section of the ventilator consists of athimble 5, having an outer flange 6 at one end, and is constructed in alike manner to the inner section.

A plate 7 is fitted to the flanged end of the thimble 5, preferably byhaving its edge portion bent so as to embrace the flange 6. A series ofopenings 8 are formed in the plate 7 and are preferably of sector formand spaced an equal distance apart. A damper 9 cooperates with the plate7 to regulate the open ings 8. This damper consists of a disk orcircular plate h aving openings 10 corresponding in number and positionwith the openings 8 of the plate 7, so as to register therewith in oneposition of the damper. In the preferable construction the damper 9 isarranged upon the inner side of the plate 7, so as to be housed andprotected thereby. The ventilating-openings, consisting of the apertures8 and 10, are protected in a manner to secludethe passage of mice,vermin, and the like without materially interfering with the freecirculation of air. The protector 11 preferably consists of wirefabric,although foraminous or reticulated material of any kind may be employed.This protector is preferably applied to the damper and is located uponthe inner side thereof, thereby admitting of the outer side of thedamper having a close fit against the inner side of the plate 7. Thedamper is adapted to have a rotary movement imparted thereto and isconnected to the plate 7 by means of a pivot 12 or other suitab efastening. A knob or finger-piece 13 is attached to the damper andprojects outward therefrom and serves as convenient means formanipulating the damper when it is required to open or close the same.This knob operates in one of the openings 8, and the latter has a notch14 at one side to receive the inner end of the knob and admit of thedamper being opened to the full capacity of the ventilating-openings.

This invention contemplates applying the ventilator to thebuilding-block when constructing the latter, said ventilator being arranged in the mold or pressed in such a position as to admit of thematerial being stamped or otherwise shaped about the said ventilator Tofacilitate construction of the block, the knob or finger-piece isremoved, and after the block has been removed from the mold or press,the knob or finger-piece is placed in position. The flanges 4 and 6 atthe outer ends of the telescopic section comprising the ventilator, givea finished appearance to the ventilator, limit the inward movement ofits section, and insure the formation of a tight joint between saidsections and the side of the block in which the ventilator is arranged.

It is proposed to furnish one or more ventilating-blocks with a certainnumber of other hollow blocksand in the construction of a wall one ormore ventilating-blocks is arranged in said wall, with the ventilatorsfaclng lnto the lower portion of a room or apartment and one or moreventilating-blocks lo cated with the ventilators facing outward a t ornear the upper portion of said room or apartment. A wall so constructedwill admit of thorough ventilation of a room or apartment withoutproducing appreciable draft and will at the same time admit of thecurrent of air circulating through. the wall a t all times to carry offdampness and prevent the same and frost from striking through the wallin cold weather.

Having thus described the invention, what. is claimed as new is Aventilator of the character and. for the purpose specified, comprisingtwo telescopic thimbles, both of which are provided at their outer edgeswith outstanding flanges. the circular plate having its edge recurved toembrace the flange at the outer end of one of said thimbles and therebysecured thereto, said plate having openings therein and a notch in theside wall of one of said openings, a damper-plate arranged on the innerside of the first-named plate and having openings to register with theopenings thereof, and the two plates pivoted together at the centers theouter edge of the damper-plate working within the reeurved edge of thefirst-named plate, a handle attached to the (liIJ'I'1PO1'-])l:tl0 andextending outwardly througl. one of the openings in the inst-named plateand arranged to enter the notch therein when the damper-plate is fullyclosed, and wire fabric or like protecting means secured to the innerside of the damper-plate.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

EDWARD JAMES MollhhlGll'll. EDVAHDO A. ClMMlfiltY.

Witnesses:

T. F. PEPPERMAN, Anson J. EBB.

